Latest Headlines

Former Poarch Creek Indian Chief Appears At Century Library

April 18, 2008

Billy Smith, the former chief of the Poarch Creek Indians, delighted children and adults alike Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library.

Appearing in traditional dress, Smith (pictured above) spoke to the children about safety with strangers while explaining traditional Indian customs.

“They are young, and we want to set the right example for them,” Smith said of the children.

Along with Douglas Daughtry (pictured left), Smith led the children in a “friendship dance” around the library by playing his traditional antelope skin drum. Smith was in a traditional Western Plains dance costume that he handmade. While his dance at the library lasted just a few moments, he said that competition dances at pow wows can last up to ten minutes.

Smith presented the children with copies of a photograph of him on a horse named Buckshot. He said he has distributed about 800,000 of the postcard photos to children around the country during the last several years.

Smith is the general manager of the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve, a business enterprise of the Poarch Band Creek Indians. He served 18 years on the Tribal Council and serves on the PCI Gaming Board that is responsible for the new Windcreek Casino development north of Atmore.

“Windcreek” was Smith’s idea for the casino complex name, he said. It is derived from “wind” in the Wind Clan in Atmore and “creek” in Poarch Creek Indians. He was also responsible for the very first Poarch Creek Indian Pow Wow, an event that started on July 4 but was later moved to Thanksgiving weekend.

For a complete photo gallery from Thursday visit of the Poarch Creek Indians to the Century Branch Library, click here.

Pictured below: Children at the library are reflected in a mirror on Daughtry’s traditional Indian dress.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.